Method of making and maintaining wells



1,642,245 P. s. JUDY METHOD 0F MAKING AND MAINTAINING WELLS Sept. 13, 1927.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Se t. 19 p 13 27 P. s. JUDY METHOD OF MAKING AND MAINTAINING WELLS Filed NOV. 20. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 13, 1927.

UNITED STATES .PATENT oFFICE.

PHILIP S. JUDY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

METHOD OF MAKING AND MAINTAINING WELLS.

i AppIication filed November 20, 1925. Serial No. 70,310.

In accomplishing these objects I have pro- 'vided impro-ved details of structure, the preerred forms of lwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a well constructed in accordance with my .invention and adapted for operation by my improved method.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of thev upper and lower portions of the same.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3 3, Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a detail, vertical section of the casing, showing an initial step in the making ofthe well.

y Fig. 5 isa similar view, showing the tubing in place. y

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the excavating and water ow elements and gravel in place in the casing preparatory to making the water bed.

Fig. 7 is a similar view, showing the water bed partially formed.

Referring more in detail to the draw- 1n s:-

il designates a well hole sunk through asoil formation 2 including strata of different characteristics, into a water bearingsand and gravel stratum 3 lying above a bed rock 4.

Extending through the well hole and, initially, to the bed rock is a casing 5 constituting a wall for the well hole, whereby the hole is maintained and cavings of loose stratum held back during the making period and afterwards during the operation and cleaning of the well.

Extending through the casing 5 is a tubing 6 of substantially less diameter than the casing and of greater length, s'o that it may be extended through the bed rock to a substantial depth below the water stratum, the tubing having a perforated section 7 'at such distance above its lower end as to be located within the water stratum and extended a short distance into the bed rock, the upper end of the tubing being also extended above the to of the casing. Extending through the tu ing 6 is a pipe 8 which terminates slightly above the bottom of the tubing and is extended a short distance thereabove where it carries a valve 9, having a laterally extending stem 10 provided with a hand wheel 11, the pipe 8 vbeing adapted for the delivery of water from the well to the surface, and for cleaning the wellv as will be hereinafter described. Also extending through the tubing 6 is an air pipe 12 having an elbow 13 at its lower end comprising a nozzlel/ that is located within the lower end of the pipe 8, the air pipe being also extended above the tubing and turned laterally for connection with a compressor or other pressure medium supply (not shown), the air pipe having 'a control valve 15 at an easily accessible point in itslaterally turned portion.

The parts just described form permanent elements of the well and are those initially installed for the making of the well.

After the well is made, as will presently be described, a head 16 is formed about the upper portions of the tubular members to permanently -embed them, the head being preferably formed of concrete land comprisingl an inclined chute channel 17 leading to the casing 5 and having a door 18 at *he side' of the head, through which gravel may be delivered to the casing.

The head 16 is located in a 'pit 19 to give it a permanent foundation, and rises to any desired height above the surface of the ground, the uppervportion being chambered to house the projecting ends of the water and air pipes with their valves and appurtenances, and havin windows 20 in its side walls through whlch operation of the well 'may be observed, and a manhole 21 in its top, through which access may be had to the chamber 22 upon the removal of a cover 23.

The valve stem 10 controlling flow through the water pipe 8 preferably extends through a bearing 24 in one of the side walls of the well head so that the hand wheel 11 may be operated from the exterior of the well head. The valve housing is extended upwardly to provide a neck 26, and mounted on said'neck is an umbrella 27 of any well known type, into which water is delivered from the pipe 8 to spray and cascade within the well head chamber, thereby aerating the After the well has been in operation for water and providing for easy observation of some time, fine material from the porous its volume. stratum will accumulate in the gravel bed A well seal 28 is located on the bottom of and interfere with free flow of water to the the chamber 22 to cover the tubing 6 and tubing. When this occurs, the valve at the hold the pipes 8 and 12 in proper relation. top ofthe tubing may be closed to shut olf Opening to the bottom of the chamber 22 the outlet, and air, continuing to blow into is a pipe 29 which may` lead to any suitabl/eithe water pipe, will cause backflow of'water storage reservoir. through the tubing, out through the aper- In making the well the casing 5 is lower d tures into the gravel bed. and out through to bed rock (Fig. 4). The tube 6 iS then the gravel bed into the porous stratum, extended through the casing and through washing the gravel free of its accumulations the bed rock to a substantial depth below and further loosening the water stratum. the Iwater stratum in order to form a pit Whenthe valve is again open, this loosened within which water may accumulate, the material flows through the gravel bed into tubing having its coarsely perforated section the tubing and is delivered at the top of located within the water stratum and eX- the well with the water, the volume of flow tended downwardly a short distance into the thereby being restored and increased because bed rock, (Fig. 5). of the enlargement of the excavation.

With the casing and tubing in place the As the excavation is enlarged by this back water and air pipes,are lowered through the flow and the removal of the line material tubing and-a supply of screened gravel l0- with the water, more gravel is delivered from cated within the casing about the tubing the casing to compensate for the removed (Fig. 6). Air is then let into the air'pipe to material, thereby at all times maintaining a discharge upwardly into the water pipe, and suiiicient gravel bed foresuppoting the walls the casing 5 is jacked up slightly to form and roof of the excavation. Th1s cleaning an opening above the bed rock. Water operation may be repeated from time to time liowing from the stratum through the open-i as it may become necessary to maintain a ing beneath the casing and throu h the apertures in the tubing will deseen about the water pipe to the open lower end of the pipe and then travel upwardly under force of the air lift to discharge at the surface. Some of the ne material of the stratum and from around the mouth of the well hole at the top of theV bed rock will be carried along with the water, making an excavation in the stratum about the tubing. beneath the casing into which the gravel will iiow by gravity to form a water bed.

The casing is further jacked up by degrees the excavation is enlarged, and gravel iiowed into the excavation until a bed of de-v sired proportions is made, the valve on the tubing being occasionally closed and water backiiowed 1`nto the stratum to loosen the material so that it can be drawn out when the upward flow is again resumed, the a1r pressure being sufficient to force the gravel into the stratum and grind the material loose so that it can pass through the (gravel bed upon resumption of the upwar flow through the water pipe. 4When the bed is suliicientl large, the elevation of the casing is discontinued, the pum head formed about the top of the casing an the well completed,

proper flow from the well.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The method of making and maintainin wells consisting of locating a perforate tube in awell, delivering gravel to a water stratum about the perforated tube to form a porous Water bed about the perforated tube, drawing water and line material from the stratum through the bed and delivering the same to the surface through the tube by in-` duced upward flow in the tube, and intermittently backflowin through the bed to loosen accumulation in the bed. 2. The method of making and maintainlng wells consisting of locatlng a perforated tu e infa well, delivering gravel to a water stratum about-the perforated tube to form a porous water bed about the. perforated tube, drawing water and fine material from the stratum through the bed and delivering the same to the surface through the tube by induced u ward ow in the tube, intermittently bac owing contents of the tube through the bed to loosen accumulation in the bed and supplying fresh gravel to compensate for fine material removed from the well.

3. The method of making and maintaining wells, consisting of delivering gravel to a. water stratum about a perforated tube to form a porous ywater bed, exhaustin contents of the tube through a. containe pi e to draw fine material and water from t e stratum to clear the bed, and intermittently closing olf the pipe and exerting back pressure on contents ofthe tube to backtlow contents of the tube uh contents through the bed to clear the 4. The method of making and maintaining wells, consisting of confining gravel about a perforated tube within a water stratum, exhausting contents of the tube to excavate about the tube, raising the gravel confining element to permit flow of ravel into the excavation to form a water be condraw Water and fine material through the gravel to clear and expand the bed, inter` mittently backliowing contents of the tube through thel gravel to clear the bed, and supplyin gravel to compensate for material rel5 mov from the stratum.

In testimony whereof I atlix m signature;

n t PHILIP JUDY. 

